Short nails are neat, practical, and one of the biggest nail trends of 2022, but they're not exactly conducive to nail art. Fingernails always provide a tiny canvas to work with, and without extensions or significant natural growth, your space is even more limited. Some nail art ideas just won't be doable on a closely-trimmed nail plate.

Still, you don't have to resign yourself to a life of solid color just because you're committed to keeping your nails short. The internet has an endless supply of short nail designs, which you can try out or use as references when you hit the salon. Ahead, some of the best nail designs for short nails if you don't have a lot of length to work with. (Related: Winter Nail Designs You Can Totally Manage at Home)

French manicures feature a small sliver of an accent, making them a suitable option for short nails. To get the multi-color update on the classic shown above, follow these steps from Christina Kao, co-founder and CEO of Le Mini Macaron.

Even if your nails are super short, you'll have plenty of room to add a thin outline to each nail. You can go with a clear coat accented with black polish and glitter as shown above, or try the technique with two contrasting matte shades. Once you've made your selection, here's how to pull off the short nail design, according to Shelena Robinson, global education manager at OPI.

When you're feeling uninspired by regular French manicures, you can consider flipping the design so that the color runs down the side of each nail rather than the tips. Throw in an unexpected color combo, such as red and black, and you'll end up with a truly eye-catching result. Read on to find out how Melinda Carrillo, a nail artist at Pear Nova Studio, created the look above.

Foil is an underrated nail enhancement option. "You can apply [foil] to the full nail, or as an abstract french as we did in this video," says Jennifer Bell, senior marketing manager of Bellacures salons. "Foils are a fun way to add some shape or patterns to your nails that can be super difficult to paint on without loads of skill. This look is best achieved using gel polishes." 

Can't choose between a solid color, a French manicure, or swirls? Bring all three together with this take on mismatched nail art. Whether you go with two shades of the same color as shown above or decide on complementary hues, the end result will be visually appealing. Here's how to pull off this nail design for short nails, according to Kao.

Checkered nail art such as the design above can be scaled down for shorter nail lengths. The key is to use a detailer brush with a 7-millimeter length, which will give you more control when creating drawing tiny squares, says Robinson. (A 9-millimeter brush allows you to cover a larger area faster and will suffice if you have longer nails.) Below, Robinson's tips for achieving this take on cute, short nail designs.

Nail stickers are in and applying jeweled versions can set off a sparkly stack of rings. You can adhere the stickers over your favorite nail color, go with a French manicure as shown above, or opt for a clear coat underneath. Here's your best plan of action for pulling off this short nail design, according to Kao. (Related: 2022 Nail Trends You'll Want to Bookmark to Show Your Manicurist)

When you're after short, simple nail designs, consider doodling hearts onto a few of your nails. All you'll need to copy the above design are two colors of your choice, a detailer brush, and a steady hand. Here's exactly how to pull it off, according to Kao. (Related: Valentine's Day Nail Designs You'll Fall Hard for This Year)

It's not a short nail design per se, but the skittles manicure, i.e. using a different color on every finger, is more dynamic than using the same color across the board. Plus, you can achieve a Skittles mani even if your nails are bitten to the quick. "This spring, we see this trend taking a more subtle turn," says Bell. "Instead of reaching for a mix of bright pinks, we are going to see a lot of neutral, softer, subtle skittles out there. Think olive greens, grey-blues, or nudes."